Israel Must Stop Unjust Treatment of Palestinians for the Sake of Peace
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA calls on American leadership to demand justice for Palestinians
SILVER SPRING, MD—May 21, 2021—Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA, the nation’s oldest Muslim organization, calls on the U.S. Administration and U.S. State Department to act with justice and put an end to the prolonged suffering and destruction of the Palestinian people.
Amnesty International called for Israel’s attacks on residential homes in Gaza to be investigated as war crimes, which The Associated Press reports has now killed over 240 Palestinians, including at least 66 children. Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA finds it extremely regrettable and disappointing that the U.S. State Department has thus far only expressed support for Israel and defended Israel’s actions while demonstrating a lack of sympathy for the killing of innocent Palestinians, particularly children. Such a one-sided response encourages further Israeli actions that may take more innocent lives.
An honest assessment of the current climate reveals what precipitated the present violent climate was the Israeli government’s forced evictions of Arabs from their own homes in Sheikh Jarrah and the Israeli police attack on Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem. Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA believes no peace comes from attacking a mosque during Ramadan, nor from airstrikes on civilian populations or inflicting cruelties on women and children.
The present crisis reflects an asymmetrical conflict between Israeli forces and Palestinians. This is evident by the vast disparity in military strength, infrastructure and resources between Israel and Palestine and the correspondingly disproportionate death toll of the Palestinian people and destruction of their homes. With its state-of-the-art military power, Israel has a responsibility to exhibit restraint and treat Palestinian life with basic human respect and protect their basic rights.
“For years, the Khalifa (international supreme leader) of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad, has called for balance and justice as the means to alleviate the suffering of innocent human lives,” said Amjad Mahmood Khan, National Director of Public Affairs for Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA. “We call on U.S. leadership to value and prioritize justice for all people at all levels – in both domestic and foreign policies. The Israel Palestine issue can only be solved through true justice. Otherwise, even despite a present ceasefire, the cycle of violence and hostilities will continue in perpetuity. At the same time, a showing of unity among Muslim countries, which has thus far been lacking, can well serve to restrain Israel and end the humanitarian suffering of the Palestinian people.”
About the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community:
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is a dynamic, reformist and fast-growing international movement within Islam. Founded in 1889, the Community spans 213 countries with tens of millions of members. Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA, established in 1920, is the oldest American-Muslim organization.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is the only Islamic organization to believe that the long awaited messiah has come in the person of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908) of Qadian, India. Ahmad claimed to be the metaphorical second coming of Jesus of Nazareth and the divine guide, whose advent was foretold by the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad. The Community believes that God sent Ahmad, like Jesus, to end religious wars, condemn bloodshed and reinstitute morality, justice and peace. Ahmad’s advent has brought about an unprecedented era of Islamic revival and moderation. He divested Muslims of fanatical beliefs and practices by vigorously championing Islam’s true and essential teachings.
